Chile's Security Strategy: Prioritizing Impact Amidst Limited Resources

Chile is currently debating new government security measures, including intervening in "50 critical neighborhoods" and creating a "Unique Registry of Vandals and Incivilities." These initiatives aim to address public demands for safer spaces, reduced violence, and enhanced state capacity against crime. However, given limited resources and the government's declaration of an "economic emergency," a crucial question arises: how should security resources be prioritized? The author argues that not all crimes inflict equal social harm. While traditional security policies focus on crime frequency, more sophisticated methods can measure the societal damage caused by offenses. Chile possesses methodologies to assess crime's impact, identifying not only where crimes occur but also which pose the greatest risk to individuals. Criminological evidence suggests that a small proportion of events and actors are responsible for a significant portion of total harm. Therefore, existing criteria for prioritization should be better utilized in crime prevention strategies. The concept of "critical neighborhoods" might be more accurately termed "critical micro-locations," as crime often concentrates in specific small areas rather than entire neighborhoods, avoiding community stigmatization and enabling more targeted state action. Similarly, while a registry for disruptive behaviors like vandalism is reasonable for maintaining social order and public perception, it should not be equated with the most severe criminal damage. Prioritizing strategically is essential, focusing on phenomena causing the greatest violence and social harm, such as organized crime, homicides, and illegal markets, rather than solely on incivilities. Effective public security requires distinguishing where societal damage is highest and where state intervention can yield the greatest impact, leveraging existing evidence and tools for a more strategic approach.